Hey guys - here is the last part of chapter eight! Only two left! xD And here's the final cast member revealed: Arya Dröttningu portrayed by Ashley C. Williams. :D

Now, enjoy! (:)

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The image in the mirror sped up soundlessly, showing the hatching of the dragons: first Nicholas's, then Nathan's, then Niaomi's, then the twins' in tandem. After the pink and silver dragonets emerged, the reminiscence resumed playing in normal time. Renata and Rosaminda both hissed in pain as their gedwëy ignasias were burned onto their rights palms. 

"'Doesn't hurt' my arse!" they both cursed at the same time. 

"Oh, quit whining you two," Niaomi lightly mocked. She bent down to retrieve her elemental bracelet as the cavern began to shake slightly. "Looks like we're heading up now." 

Her words turned out to be accurate as the floor rose and the ceiling became the a myriad of glowing glyphs once more. The portal opened just in time for them to all disappear inside. 

The mirror showed the five kids and their dragons floating upwards in a glowing white vortex. Raising her dragonet so that their eyes could meet, Rose asked aloud, "Where are the Spine Mountains?" 

"They're not a part of Alalëa, that's for sure," her twin answered, stroking the baby Silveran in the spot right between his wings and causing him to emit the higher-pitch rumbling sound Eragon associated with pleasure. 

Niaomi set the young Luminous down on one shoulder so that she could straighten the tangle that was her hair. "Then they must be in Alagaësia - looks like we're really leaving." 

It was quiet for a spell as they kept ascending. Looking at the whiteness that surrounded them, Nat managed to sit down on whatever platform was keeping them afloat and tucked the orange dragonet that would be named Toparien in between his legs. "I'll miss our island." 

"And everything we'll have to leave behind," his brother added grimly, hugging baby Emere to his chest gently. 

"Wayłoêr, Tristan, Błathr, Shwa and Hisera, Elodiâ, Skysong, Fleetfoot - there are so many." Niaomi sighed and leaned against the glowing border that acted as a wall. "And in Alagaësia, who will we have?" 

"G-Ma and G-Pa have family there, don't they?" Ren reminded them. "You'll be able to meet your aunts, your grandmother." 

"Don't you mean our?" Nick asked. 

His beau gave him a rueful smile. "We're not blood related, Nick. Plus, god-family doesn't extend past the parents." 

"But in-laws do - " He paused, realizing what he'd said as shock crossed Niaomi's, Nathan's, and Rosaminda's face. "Oops." 

"Wait, wait, wait... 'in-laws'? So what, this means - you two are...getting married?!" 

"No need to sound so shocked, brother." 

Nat pointed his finger at Nicholas accusingly. "Oh, don't get all righteous on me! How could you not tell us?" 

"Yeah!" Rose agreed, crossing her arms. "I understand between the brothers, but I'm your twin for gods' sakes, Renata!" 

"Hey!" both boys protested. 

"Shush and let them explain," Niaomi silenced the grumbles as she turned to face the couple in question. "So? Let's hear it, then." 

"It just happened two days ago," Renata began explaining. "We didn't want to turn our birthday party into an engagement one, especially since it was your turn to be surprised, Nia. So we were just going to wait until after the party, but all this stuff happened so we never got the chance." 

Rosaminda huffed, still not fully satisfied. "Alright, then where's the ring?" 

Digging into the pocket of her gray sweater, Ren pulled out a silver ring that at first glance looked like a diamond solitaire. But, zooming in, the viewers could make out the smattering of hematites that ringed the sparkling gem. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry that complemented Renata perfectly. 

"Wow," breathed Niaomi as her eldest god-sister slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. "It's amazing. Did you craft it yourself, Nick?" 

He nodded, and Nathan patted his back with a large grin. "I'm impressed, bro - nice work. Mom and Dad are sure to be as pleased as punch." 

"Speaking of family, I just remembered that we do have a blood-relative in Alagaësia," Rose said, her eyes like icy shards of a wintry sky. "Liress." 

Her twin sucked in a breath. "Our dear aunt. How could we forget?" 

Nat spoke up hesitantly, "But isn't she, ah...evil?" 

"Yes." Clenching her fists, Rosaminda continued in an angry voice much unlike her, "And she's the reason Beloth is dead." 

"And also the reason Belinda survived," Niaomi reminded her, putting a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "It's not good to harbor such resentment, Rose." 

"Even if it's well earned," Ren agreed, though her eyes were like slats of slate. "Hopefully we won't be meeting her. Our appearance would easily give us away as Belinda's daughters." 

"And we don't want to attract the attention of Galbatorix," Nick said as his dragon began chirping incessantly. "Seems like this green guy's getting hungry." 

"Nice alliteration," his sister noted, making him smile. "We should be reaching the surface anytime now." 

"I wonder how long it's been," Nat mused. "Hope they're not getting too worried about us." 

Niaomi waved away his concern. "Wayłoêr could scry us for them if they asked. They've probably taken this opportunity to start packing without me there to rave about how leaving is the wrong thing to do - or so I would have done if not for this." 

"What do you think they'll be like?" Nicholas asked. Somehow all the Riders were now sitting down. 

"Who? Our parents?" 

"No, Nat, our family in Alagaësia. Mom and Dad both have sisters, right? And Mom's mother is still alive?" 

Fingering the purple scarf in her hair, his sister answered, "The queen of the elves. Wow, Mom doesn't like talking about her so much that I forget we're technically royalty. And you twins are nobles, as well." 

"Weird," the two blondes said in tandem. 

"As a queen I bet our grandmother's all stuffy," Nathan chuckled. "Puts on airs and such." 

"As an elf, I bet she's stuffier," his brother said with a laugh. 

Niaomi grinned and preceded to put on airs. "Now now, Nathaniel Könungru, it is very impolite to speak of the queen in such a disrespectful manner. You must set a good example to your younger brother." 

"Quite right, Niaomi Dröttningu!" Nick snickered, but stopped when she pointed her finger at him. 

"And you, Nicholas Könungru! Shame for following along in such a rude display." 

"You do embarrass me so," Renata cut in, playing along. "Really, Nicholas, try to behave yourself." 

"Please forgive me, Lady Renata." Nicholas bowed from his seat on the ground, which looked so ridiculous everyone began laughing. "I do beg your most sincere apologies." 

Using her hand as a makeshift fan, Rose stage whispered to her twin, "I do think you should forgive him, sister dear. He just looks so sorry." 

"In which way, Lady Rosaminda?" tittered Ren. 

"Why, both, of course!" 

Nat cleared his throat. "Now, ladies, I must defend my brother's admittedly unfounded honor - " 

"'Unfounded'! Rogue, do you cast down your gauntlet in a duel?" 

"I most certainly do!" 

"Have at it, then!" 

The boys began waving their arms around in a mock sword fight as the girls cheered them on. Emere and Toparien began to scuffle as well, prompted by their Riders, which made the other dragonets begin blowing puffs of smoke and screeching. Everyone finally dissolved into a pile of laughing children and squabbling dragons, and were just beginning to detangle themselves when they abruptly ceased rising. 

"Looks like we're here," Renata said, climbing to her feet and picking up her silver dragonet before he could pounce on his sister Opheila. 

"Wherever here is." Nathan helped Rosaminda back to her feet as the white vortex glowed fainter, the glyphs becoming visible once again. Outside the barrier waves lapped, and as it grew clearer the five found themselves hovering a few inches above the surface of the ocean. The beach where Niom first landed was less than half a league away. Nat asked in a remarkably calm tone, "I guess this platform won't last forever, huh?" 

The rest quickly snatched up their dragonets, and Nick ruefully replied, "Guess not," as the rest of the vortex finally disintegrated, leaving the five free to plunge into the water below. 

Within moments they surfaced, breathing slightly heavily as the baby dragons grumbled in dismay. "Don't worry, guys," said Niaomi as she pushed her bangs out of her face. "I'm using my powers to keep us afloat." 

"So they're working again?" her brothers asked. 

She grinned brightly, eyes twinkling. "Like a charm." 

The Riders' laughter was cut short when they heard a ferocious roar come from high above them. Niaomi spun them all in the direction of the sound, and the mirror's view shifted to show Vanilor battling two Lethrblaka. Eragon was shocked to see them not only flying above such a large body of water but also in the daylight. But as one broke away and flew towards Alalëa, he realized that it was not one of the Ra'zac that sat astride the foul beast, but a human - someone with long, wavy, golden blond hair... 

The scene shifted to show the five looking on in horror; a perfect three dimensional image of the picture drawn in Niaomi's seer journal. Her eyes widened as the realization struck her, and the twins gasped as a different realization struck them. 

"That woman, she - she can't possibly be..." Rose's stuttering came to an end as the Lethrblaka came to a halt a few yards in front of them, its flapping causing waves to displace the five. Its rider looked down on them, her blond hair askew. Even though her face was grim, it was astonishingly beautiful. Eragon knew exactly who she was even before that cruelly wonderful voice spoke. 

"Why, this is quite a find! Six Riders, of which two appear to be the bastard offspring of my dear sister." Cold brown eyes glittered with malice. "Nice to meet you, children. I am Liress, leader of the Black Hand, and I'm here for one simple purpose: to escort you to King Galbatorix."